Photocatalysis process toothbrush

ABSTRACT

A photocatalysis process toothbrush comprising a handle with a grip at a proximal end and a head at a distal end thereof. The head has at least one group of bristles and at least one blue light emitter is provided on an upper surface of the head for emitting blue light in a direction generally parallel to the bristles. At least one blue light source is provided for radiating blue light, in a wavelength band between 420 nm to 480 nm, and a power source is provided for energizing the at least one blue light source. The blue light is at least one of modulated emission with an average optical output power level of less than 5 watts.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/872,761 filed on Dec. 4, 2006 and entitled“TOOTH BRUSH WITH BLUE LIGHT SOURCE” and such teaching and disclosure ishereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dental hygiene and, in particular, to atoothbrush which emits radiation, in the near ultraviolet region of theelectromagnetic spectrum, in order to oxidize and destroy potentiallyharmful bacteria and/or other contaminants or compounds contained withinthe mouth and also activate a photo catalyst that may be deposited onthe teeth and the gums of the person utilizing the toothbrush duringnormal brushing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of photocatalysis in dental hygiene processes is wellestablished and stems from processes for purifying gases and liquids andfor controlling bacteria and other microorganisms in gases and liquidsand on the surfaces of solid objects. In general, photocatalysis methodsinvolve the photoexcitation of photocatalytic compounds, for example,catalytic n-type semiconductor particles such as TiO₂ particles, withultraviolet (UV) light to activate the photocatalyst, which thenparticipates in reduction/oxidation reactions with matter adsorbed to orin the near vicinity of the surface of the particles. Thereduction/oxidation reactions produce highly reactive hydroxyl radicalswhich oxidize and destroy bacteria and organic compounds in the gas orliquid or on the surface(s) being treated, such as bacteria and otherorganic substances associated with, for example, tooth decay, gumdisease, denture stomatitis and halitosis/malodor.

In the past, photocatalysis methods have generally only been performedin a dentist's offices by either a dentist or a dental hygienist using aspecialized UV laser(s) or some other optical device(s) which emits acontrollable, directed beam of UV light. More recently, however, therehave been proposals to manufacture and sell UV photocatalysis devices tothe general public, e.g., a toothbrush containing a UV light radiatingdevice, together with toothpastes and/or mouthwashes containingphotocatalytic particles, such as TiO₂. In such toothbrushes, the UVlight emitted by a UV laser diode, for example, passes through a lightguide to the end of the toothbrush which brushes the teeth where thislight is emitted into the user's mouth by, for example, lenses implantedamong the bristles or through fiber optic bristles that form at leastpart of the brush bristles. The bristles mechanically facilitate removalof plaque and/or other organic materials from the teeth and the gumsduring brushing, similar to brushing with a conventional toothbrush,while the UV light is emitted directly to illuminate photocatalyticparticles distributed on the surfaces of the teeth and the gums, therebyproviding both a conventional cleaning mechanism as well as aphotocatalytic cleaning mechanism.

The currently UV photocatalytic toothbrushes which are marketed toconsumers, however, have a number of significant problems, not the leastbeing the potential hazards associated with such devices. For example,in the generally preferred wavelength range of 280 mm to 400 mm, UVlight at any power level is typically capable of damaging human skinincluding the tissue of human eyes. Compounding this problem is the factthat UV light within this wavelength range is nearly invisible to a useror patient, so that it is difficult to determine where the emitted UVbeam is directed or aimed. In addition, the duration of irradiation ofthe catalytic particles, at any particular location within the mouth, istypically very short during the normal toothbrushing process, thusrequiring higher power levels of UV radiation in order to obtaineffective catalytic reactions. This problem is further compounded by thenormal deterioration of the light transmission capability of the brushend elements, such as the lenses and the fiber optic elements, overtime. Higher emitted power levels are generally called for in order toachieve satisfactory performance.

Up until now it is in fact the potential hazards of UV radiation thathas limited the use of the UV dental hygiene processes to dentists andoral hygienists and the practical application of these methods toconsumer toothbrushes and devices accordingly faces significant hurdles.For example, all medical or dental devices emitting ultraviolet light,and in particular within the wavelength range of 280 mm to 400 mm, areunder Food and Drug Administration (FDA) control and licensing. Inaddition, all laser devices emitting coherent radiation of 1 milliwattor more in the visible wavelengths, and all devices emitting laserradiation at any power level in the non-visible wavelengths, such as theUV and IR wavelengths, are presently prohibited from being sold to thegeneral public.

The present invention, however, provides a solution to the abovedescribed as well as other related problems associated with the priorart products and methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Wherefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome theabove mentioned shortcomings and drawbacks associated with the priorart.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush which emitsradiation, in the near ultraviolet region of the electromagneticspectrum, to oxidize and destroy potentially harmful bacteria and/orother contaminants or compounds contained within the mouth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush that willactivate a photo catalyst deposited on the teeth and the gums of theperson utilizing the toothbrush during normal brushing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush which emitsblue light within the 420 nm to 480 nm wavelength band, of theelectromagnetic spectrum to avoid the normal hazards associated withusing UV radiation as well as the corresponding FDA restrictions.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush in whichthe radiated blue light emissions may be amplitude modulated from 0% to100% at a frequency of between about two (2) and about two hundred (200)Hertz, more preferably between about 6 and about 60 Hertz and mostpreferably between about 10 and about 30 Hertz, with an average opticaloutput power level of less than 5 watts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush whichis relatively inexpensive to manufacture which has a power source thatis light weight and can be readily recharged or replaced as needed.

As used herein, the term “average optical output power level” means thatthe optical output power may briefly exceed 5 watts on modulation peekshow ever the total integrated power level over a time period of 1 secondwill not exceed 5 watts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with referenceto the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a toothbrush according withthe teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a diagrammatic transverse cross sectional side view of thetoothbrush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic transverse cross sectional side view of thetoothbrush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged diagrammatic side elevational view of a brushhead with the blue light source extending further away from the base ofthe head, then the embodiments of FIGS. 2A and 2B, so that the light isemitted adjacent the free ends of the bristles of the toothbrush;

FIG. 3B is a diagrammatic transverse cross sectional side view of analternative embodiment of a toothbrush which comprises a handle having aremoval brush head;

FIG. 3C is a diagrammatic transverse cross sectional side view of analternative embodiment of a toothbrush in which the handle is integralwith the brush head;

FIG. 3D is a diagrammatic enlarged view of the brush head of FIG. 3C;

FIG. 4A is a diagrammatic enlarged view of an alternative embodiment ofthe brush head in which each individual blue light source is associatedwith a group of bristles attached to the brush head to supply the bluelight along the length of the bristles; and

FIG. 4B is a diagrammatic enlarged view of a further embodiment of abrush head have each blue light source associated with a group ofbristles attached to the brush head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to FIG. 1, a diagrammatic representation of a toothbrush 10,according to the present invention, is shown. As illustrated therein,the toothbrush 10 includes is includes a handle 12 having a grip 14 atits proximal end to be held in the user's hand while using thetoothbrush 10 and a brush head 16, typically including one or moregroups of bristles 18, located at the distal or working end of thehandle 12. As also illustrated in FIG. 1, the head 16 further includesone or more blue light emitters 20 that emit blue light 22 in the 450 nm+/−30 nm (nanometer) wavelength band, that is, in the wavelengthsbetween 420 nm and 480 nm and at an average power level of less than 5watts. Preferably the blue light has an average power level of betweenabout 0.25 and about 1 watt and more preferably an average power levelof between about 0.5 and about 0.95 watts.

In some applications, the blue light output from the emitters 20 maycomprise solely a continuous emission of blue light having a combinedpower level of less than 5 watts, while in other applications the bluelight output from the emitters 20 may comprise a modulated blue lightemission having a frequency of between about two (2) and about twohundred (200) Hertz, more preferably between about 6 and about 60 Hertzand most preferably between about 10 and about 30 Hertz, having anaverage combined power level of less than 5 watts. For otherapplications, the blue light output from the emitters 20 may comprise afirst blue light component which is a continuous emission of blue lightand a second blue light component which is a pulsed blue light emissionat a frequency typically between two (2) and two hundred (200) Hertz afew Hertz and a few hundred Hertz, more preferably between about 6 andabout 60 Hertz and most preferably between about 10 and about 30 Hertz.For such combined continuous and pulsed blue light emission, thecombined total emission must not exceed an average output which isgreater that 5 watts. It is to be appreciated that the 420 nm to 480 nmwavelength band is within the visible “blue light” portion of theelectromagnetic spectrum and is, therefore, below the UV light spectrumnormally employed during conventional dental hygiene processesconventionally carried out by dentists and dental hygienist, therebyavoiding the normal hazards associated with using UV radiation as wellas the corresponding FDA restrictions.

The presently preferred photocatalytic agents, for use with radiationwithin the 420 nm to 480 nm “blue light” band include, for example,modified TiO₂ semiconductor type materials and possibly other catalyticn-type semiconductor particles as well as various organic dyes alreadyknown in the art as being photocatalytically responsive to blue lightradiation.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2A, 3A and 3B and as will be describedfurther in the following description, the blue light emitters 20 emitblue light 22 in a direction generally perpendicular to an upper surface24 of the head 16 thereby to radiate the blue light 22 into the mouthcavity of the person brushing his or her teeth, that is, the blue lightis generally directed toward the teeth, the gums, and the tongue, beingcontacted by the bristles 18 as the toothbrush is used to brush theteeth. The blue light emitters 20 may comprise one or more blue lightsources 26A, such as blue light emitting diodes or blue light emittingorganic light emitting diodes, or any other type of blue light emittingdevice located either on, within or partially recessed within the uppersurface 24 of the head 16 to facilitate directly emitting the blue light22. Alternatively, the blue light source(s) 26A may be located withinthe body of the head 16 or within handle 12 with the blue light 22 beingconducted along the handle and/or body to the blue light emitters 20where the blue light is finally emitted. One or more internal passagesor light conductive elements, such as reflective surfaces, blueconductive fiber optics, lenses and/or any combination thereof areprovided in the handle and/or body to facilitate transmission of theblue light to the blue light emitters 20. In such embodiments of atoothbrush 10, the blue light source or sources 26A will be described ordefined as being located contiguous to the head 16, such as at the topsurface 19 of head 16 or within the body of head 16, and it should benoted that for purposes of the present descriptions, the term contiguousis taken as meaning “in physical contact with” or “near, next to, oradjacent”.

In other embodiments, such as is illustrated in FIGS. 2B, 3C and 3D, theblue light source or sources 26A may be located non-contiguously withhead 16, such as in handle 12, with the blue light 22 being conductedalong the handle to blue light emitters 20 located within the head 16 bymeans of blue light optical conductors 26B comprising, for example, ofblue conductive fiber optic elements or lenses, reflective surfaces,passages or conductive “pipes” comprising blue conductive materials,and/or any combination thereof, which form a one or more paths thatconduct the blue light 22 from the blue light source or sources 26A tothe blue light emitters 20 where the light is emitted.

For example, one or more blue light sources 26A may be located in handle12 at a position just below a neck 28, formed at a junction between thehandle 12 and the head 16. According to one exemplary embodiment, suchas illustrated in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the neck 28, the head 16 and possiblyportions of the handle 12 are constructed, for example, of a bluetransparent material or with one or more blue transparent passage(s) orblue light conductive “pipe” which facilitate passage of the blue light22 through the neck 28 to the head 16 and thereafter radiated from theblue light emitters 20. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3C and3D, the portions of the neck 28 through which blue light 22 istransmitted comprises a suitable blue transparent material, as does thebody of the head 16. The interior of head 16 includes a blue reflectivesurface 30 formed as facets 30F wherein the blue light reflectiveproperties of reflective surface 30 is formed, for example, by a coatingapplied at least between the surfaces of facets 30F and an over-mold 30Oof a different material forming the back regions of the head 16. Thereflective surface 30 may also be formed, for example, by the opticalinterface of the body 16 and the over-mold 30O materials in the regionof facets 30F.

As indicated in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the blue light 22 passing through neck28 is reflected by facets 30F and redirected by the facets 30F from anarrival path, supplied along and co-linear with the neck 28, to adirection generally parallel to the bristles 18, that is, to and throughthe upper surface 24 of the head 16. It should be noted with regard tothis embodiment that other scattering of the blue light 22 in otherdirections, such as through the distal end of head 16, would providecatalytic activity in other areas of the mouth, but would requireattention during design to avoid unwanted emissions of blue light fromtoothbrush.

It will be recognized that the reflection of the blue light from itsarrival path from handle 12 to the direction parallel with the bristles18 may also be accomplished by curved or flat surfaces, rather than byfaceted surfaces.

In an alternate embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the blue lightsource or sources 26A are again located in the handle 12 whichilluminate the blue light emitters 20 provided in the head 16, via ablue light conductive path, wherein the blue light conductive pathcomprises blue light optical conductors 26B including, for example, blueconductive fiber optic elements or lenses, tunnel-like passages orconductive “pipes” comprising blue conductive materials and/or anycombination thereof. The blue light 22 is then emitted via the bluelight emitters 20 in the upper surface 24, such as lenses, the ends ofoptical fibers or through optically conductive bristles 18.

Turning now to the bristles 18, it has been described above that thebristles 18 may comprise either conventional bristles 18, such as foundin conventional toothbrushes, and the blue light 22 may be radiated thefrom blue light emitters 20 located on or in the top surface 24 of thehead 16, as was discussed above. In other embodiments, however, the bluelight emitters 20 in or one the top surface 24 of the head 16 maycomprise wholly, or in part, blue light emitting bristles 18E containinga blue light conductive material. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the bluelight source of sources 26A may be located either in the head 16, at thebases of emitting bristles 18E, to illuminate emitting bristles 18Edirectly, or, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, may be located in handle 12with the blue light 22 being conducted to the bases of the emittingbristles 28E by blue light optical conductors 26B. In the latter case,the emitting bristles 26E may comprise the same material as the bluelight optical conductors 26B or may be continuations of the blue lightoptical conductors 26B. It should also be noted that the emittingbristles 18E may be coated or otherwise provided with a reflecting outersurface to prevent or minimize the loss or escape of the blue light 22out through the sides of the emitting bristles 18E, and the head 16 maylikewise be provided with a reflective blue light containment surface toprevent or minimize leakage or loss of the blue light 22.

Next, it will be noted from the above descriptions of the toothbrush 10that while the blue light emitters 20 are located in or on the head 16,the blue light source or sources 26A may be located either in the head16 or in the handle 12. In one instance, therefore, blue light 22 mustbe conducted from the blue light source or sources 26A located withinthe handle 12 to the head 16 and, in the other instance, electricalpower, such as from a battery 32, must be conducted from the handle 12to the head 16 for supplying electrical power to the blue light sourceor sources 26A. It must also be noted, however, that in certainimplementations, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 2B, 3C and 3D forexample, the neck 28 which is formed between the head 16 and the handle12 may form a disconnectable junction or connection 34 between the head16 and the handle 12 to allow the head 16 to be removed from the handle16. This is a common feature in many conventional toothbrushes,particularly in conventional battery powered toothbrushes wherein abattery and an electric motor vibrate or rotate the toothbrush head.This design facilitates replacement of a worm or old head 16 with a newhead 16 or a different head 16 having, for example, a differentfunction, a different arrangement, a different type of bristles 18and/or different blue light emitters 20.

In those instances wherein the blue light source or sources 26A arelocated in handle 12, the path between the blue light source or sources26A and the head 16 will include the appropriate blue light opticalconnectors 34L, at junction 34, to allow the optical path to berepeatedly disconnected and reconnected in a reliable manner. Connectors34L may, for example, comprise lenses, fiber optic connectors orappropriately shaped ends in those implementations wherein the opticallight path comprises the material of the handle 12 and the head 16 or atunnel passage therethrough.

In those instances wherein the blue light source or sources 26A arelocated in the head 16, the blue light source(s) 26A will typically beprovided with electrical power from one or more batteries 32 locatedwithin an internal cavity 36 of the handle 12 and the supply ofelectrical power to the blue light source or sources 26A will typicallybe controlled by a switch 38, e.g., a “on/off” switch, located at anappropriate position on the handle 12. The circuitry will furtherinclude leads 32L running from the handle 12 and through the neck to thehead 16 and the leads 32L will typically include appropriate electricalconnectors 34L at junction 34 which facilitate repeated disconnectionand reconnection in a reliable manner.

In this regard, it should be noted that batteries 32 may be of any typemeeting the power, storage and/or size requirements while still beingsmall enough to reside in within the handle 12 and to provide thenecessary levels of current to the blue light sources 20 for therequired duration, such a NiCad, NiMiH, lithium ion, or lithium polymerbatteries which typically may be rechargeable by electrical currentsupplied from a wall socket. For this reason, the handle 12 willtypically also include a charging circuit 32C that can be connected to adirect or indirect source of electrical current supplied from aconventional wall socket, such as by a connector or by an inductioncoupling device. An active and passive interlock system will be employedto prevent normal operation during battery recharge. This interlocksystem may consist of mechanical keying of electrical connections and orelectronic control of the toothbrush electronics by the chargingcircuit. It should also be noted that advances in battery technology mayallow one or more batteries 32 to be located within the head 16 tofacilitate the use of interchangeable heads 16, with the correspondingconnections for the switch 38 and the recharging circuits 32C passingthrough the neck 15 to the handle 12. As an alternative source, thepower source or batteries may be AA or AAA alkaline, lithium, or carbonzinc batteries which are commercially available and readily replaceableby the user of the toothbrush.

The toothbrush 10, according to the present invention, will typicallyfurther include a control circuitry 38 which will typically be locatedin the handle 12 and normally include functions such as a timercircuitry, which times the duration(s) of use of the toothbrush 10 whilebrushing, an on/off duty cycle of the blue light source or sources 26A,a replace battery indicator, and so on. The control circuitry 38 mayalso include blue light source 26A control circuitry, which may beconnected with one or more sensors 40S, located in the head 16, fordetecting when the head 16 is actually located within a user's mouth,thereby reducing the possibility of the blue light being inadvertentlyemitted except when the toothbrush is actually located within the mouthof the user. The Sensor(s) 40S could include, for example, sensors formeasuring or detecting conductivity, temperature, ambient light, or someother parameter indicating that the head 16 is in the mouth of a user,and the handle 12 may include a sensor for sensing the warmth orpressure of the user's hand before the blue light source or sources 20can be activated.

It should also be noted that the toothbrush 10 may further include amotor (not shown) which moves, vibrates and/or rotates the head 16 inthe manner of conventional powered toothbrushes, which may in turneffect the arrangements for supplying the blue light 22 to the bluelight emitters 20 in as much as the mechanical structure between thehandle 12 and the head 16 in such toothbrushes includes a movingmechanical joint. In such implementations, therefore, it may bepreferable to place the blue light source or sources 26A in the handle12 and communicate the blue light 22 to the blue light emitters 20 inthe head 16 by optical paths that are typically less affected by movingmechanical joints than are electrical conductors.

Lastly, it should be noted that the provision of the replaceable head 16permits the use of other forms of blue light emitting heads 16containing blue light emitters 20 as described herein above, but shapedfor other purposes than specifically as a toothbrush, such as a wandspecifically designed and/or intended for blue light irradiation of aphotocatalytic agent distributed on the surfaces of the teeth and thegums. In a further example of an alternate arrangement of the head 16,the head 16 may be designed to hold and manipulate flossing thread orstring, thereby allowing flossing to be carried out at the same time asa blue light photocatalytic process.

It will be appreciated that various changes and/or modifications to thepresent invention may be made by those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present inventionwhich is set out in more particular detail in the appended claims.Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that theforegoing description is supplied by way of example only, and is notintended to be limiting of the invention as described in the appendedclaims.

1. A photocatalysis process toothbrush comprising: a handle having agrip at a proximal end and a head at a distal end thereof; the headincluding at least one group of bristles; the head having at least oneblue light emitter for emitting blue light in a direction generallyparallel to the at least one group of bristles; a power source forenergizing the at least one blue light source; and at least one bluelight source for radiating blue light in a wavelength band between 420nm to 480 nm.
 2. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 1,wherein the at least one blue light source is located contiguously withthe head.
 3. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 1, whereinthe at least one blue light source is located in the handler and thetoothbrush further includes at least one blue light conductor forconducting the blue light along the handle from the at least one bluelight source to the at least one blue light emitter.
 4. Thephotocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the at least oneblue light conductor includes at least one of: a blue light conductingfiber; a blue light conductive material forming at least the head of thetoothbrush; a tunnel passage; a reflective path; and at least one bluelight lens.
 5. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 3, whereinthe head further includes at least one blue light reflecting surface forredirecting the blue light from an arrival path from the at least oneblue light source in the handle in a direction generally parallel to theat least one group of bristles.
 6. The photocatalysis process toothbrushof claim 1, wherein the blue light emitters include at least one groupof blue light conductive bristles coupled to the at least one blue lightsource for emitting the blue light from remote ends of the at least onegroup of blue light conductive bristles.
 7. The photocatalysis processtoothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a neck having a connectablejunction joining the handle and the head, wherein the connectablejunction includes one of: a blue light optical connector for forming ablue light transmission path between the at least one blue light sourcein the handle and the at least one blue light emitter located on theupper surface of the head, and an electrical connector for forming anelectrical connection between the power source in the handle and the atleast one blue light source contiguous with the head.
 8. Thephotocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the blue lightradiated by the at least one blue light source has an average powerlevel of less than 1 watt.
 9. The photocatalysis process toothbrush ofclaim 8, wherein the blue light radiated by the at least one blue lightsource is a continuous blue light emission.
 10. The photocatalysisprocess toothbrush of claim 8, wherein the blue light radiated by the atleast one blue light source is a modulated blue light emission.
 11. Thephotocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 10, wherein the modulatedblue light emission is at a frequency of between about 6 and about 60Hertz.
 12. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 1, wherein theblue light radiated by the at least one blue light source comprises acombination of a continuous blue light emission and a modulated bluelight emission and the combination blue light emission has an averagepower level of less than 5 watts.
 13. The photocatalysis processtoothbrush of claim 1, wherein the photocatalytic agent is one of amodified TiO₂ semiconductor type materials, a catalytic n-typesemiconductor material, and an organic dye which photocatalyticallyresponsive to blue light radiation.
 14. The photocatalysis processtoothbrush of claim 1, wherein the power source is one of anon-rechargeable battery and a rechargeable battery.
 15. Aphotocatalysis process toothbrush comprising: a handle having a grip ata proximal end and a head at a distal end thereof; the head including atleast one group of bristles; the head having at least one blue lightemitter for emitting blue light in a direction generally parallel to theat least one group of bristles; a power source for energizing the atleast one blue light source; at least one blue light source modulatedfrom 0% to 100% at a frequency of between a two (2) and two hundred(200) Hertz with an average optical output power level of less than 5watts for radiating blue light in a wavelength band between 420 nm to480 nm; and the at least one blue light source is located in the handle,and the handle includes at least one blue light conductor for conductingthe blue light along the handle from the at least one blue light sourceto the at least one blue light emitter.
 16. The photocatalysis processtoothbrush of claim 15, wherein the at least one blue light conductorincludes at least one of: a blue light conducting fiber; a blue lightconductive material forming at least the head of the toothbrush; atunnel passage; a reflective path; and at least one blue light lens. 17.The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 15, wherein the bluelight emitters include at least one group of blue light conductivebristles coupled to the at least one blue light source for emitting theblue light from remote ends of the at least one group of blue lightconductive bristles.
 18. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim15, wherein the head further includes at least one blue light reflectingsurface for redirecting the blue light from an arrival path from the atleast one blue light source in the handle in a direction generallyparallel to the at least one group of bristles.
 19. The photocatalysisprocess toothbrush of claim 15, wherein the blue light radiated by theat least one blue light source comprises a blue light emission that maybe modulated from 0% to 100% at a frequency of between two (2) and twohundred (200) Hertz with an average optical output power level of lessthan 5 watts.
 20. A method of forming a toothbrush with a photocatalysisprocess toothbrush the method comprising the steps of: providing ahandle with a grip at a proximal end and a head at a distal end thereof;mounting at least one group of bristles to the head; locating at leastone blue light emitter so as to emit blue light in a direction generallyparallel to the at least one group of bristles; energizing the at leastone blue light source with a power source; locating the at least oneblue light source in the handle, and the handle includes at least oneblue light conductor for conducting the blue light along the handle fromthe at least one blue light source to the at least one blue lightemitter; and radiating blue light, within a wavelength band between 420nm to 480 nm and having an average power level of less than 5 watts,from at least one blue light source for and the blue light radiated bythe at least one blue light source is one of an amplitude modulatedemission from 0% to 100% at a frequency of between two (2) and twohundred (200) Hertz.